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jewells1123

kitchen island decision

8 years ago
I have a large kitchen island 12x5 open to dinning room and great room very open space, the ? Is do I do a 2tired island or on level big island?

Comments (52)

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    IMO doulbe level islands are a dated look and not nearly ass usful as just one level I agree a 5’ wide island will be very hard to clean properly I am tall and have a 52” island that i can just varely wipe from one side if I stand on my toes , usually it is a trip aound to really clean properly.The other thing is getting counter material to fit with no seam and the actual logistics of getting it into the space too.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    You are going to have a seam in that continent. Downsize it to fit the materials available. And be sure that it isn’t a roadblock between zones.

    You need to post an actual floor plan. Some kitchens aren’t actually suited to islands. Much less continents.

  • 8 years ago

    We agonized over this many times over the course of our kitchen design and visited houses with level and 2-height islands. We settled on single height. We'd had single height in our previous house and we find it fits our style better.

  • 8 years ago
    Our island will be 10x5 feet and will seat at least four. All one level with waterfall edge countertop. One level looks more current I think
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    Why will
    There necessarily be a seam? There are slabs big enough to allow for this size counter top, no? I’m doing 105” x 54” - I️ can’t wait! I️ am 5’9” so I️ am not anticipating difficulty in keeping it clean.
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    I’m doing single level btw.
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Level. Big. Island.

  • 8 years ago

    105” is quite different than 144“. A 60”W slab will not yield 60” of usable stone. 54”? Yes. But that all depends on the traffic path to get that into the house.

    In addition, it’s difficult to properly support a large overhang. A really deep island will need steel framework. Something that is missing from your picture.

  • 8 years ago

    I had 2 tiered in my previous home. I can not wait to get my large single level unobstructed island!

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Yes...and always be alert for the elevator bring the F/A-18s up to the flight deck...Oooh-gah!

  • 8 years ago
    Thank you for all of your feedback! This is picture of kitchen from great room . The island will go somewhere between the scafling and blue paper on floor. Next ? I want a whit kitchen what color white?? Paint colors and suggestions also what color island? White ?to match cabniets ? Or different color?
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    The most limiting ingredient to the kitchen design in an open plan is your choice of flooring. Everything you choose has to work with it.

    The second most limiting, in your case because of the size needed, will be your countertop. You will have a seam right down the middle. So maybe do bookmatched granite? That's your next choice to make. Once that is settled, then you can branch out into cabinet and wall color. Remember that whatever is used in the kitchen needs to be repeated elsewhere.

    You should get some help with your choices! Hire a designer to work with you to help create a whole home where all of the design choices relate to each other.

  • 8 years ago

    I think I had a bedroom smaller than that once.

    So you going to install a steam hose so you can just hose it down at the end of the day?

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    IMO good kitchen design has little to do with huge. In fact some of the biggest kitchens i have had to redo were the most inefficient spaces . IMO all of these decisions should have been made by now and as for counter you will limited to what will be available in that size if any unless you don’t mind a seam and if you book matched granite be prepared for the $$$$. BTW whrer is your kitchen designer in all of this

  • 8 years ago
    My designer and I narrowed kitchen cabinets down to these 2
    What do u think goes better
    I love a white kitchen
    There are 2 many whites to choose
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Sonow you have changed the subject , why?

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    goes better with what?? one is brighter than the other.

    first you say island is 12x5,,,,then it's down to 105".

    then you say you love white, but which white? "What goes better",,you ask. Why are you all over the place?

  • 8 years ago
    What goes better with floor
  • 8 years ago

    it's a warmer tone floor, so the left,,,,but the brighter white works too. if you're doing a white countertop, that's the one you need to worry about, not this floor.

  • 8 years ago
    Patricia I have changed the subject cause now I have made up my mind on island it will be one level. So now I am off to the cabinet color
    Is there a problem ?
  • 8 years ago
    Beth I would like to do light counter top
    What would u do?
  • 8 years ago
    I would like to know has anyone used
    simply white paint color by Benjamin Moore ?
    If so any feedback is appreciate
  • 8 years ago

    The door styles are the same. Is that your floor tile?

    The creamier color on the left goes better with the floor.

    The whiter color on the right goes better with the wall color.

    What color does your designer say? I would choose the countertops before selecting cabinet color.

  • 8 years ago

    I prefer the slightly warmer tone white on the left, but it's a matter of personal choice, as well as the other elements in the room.

    Since you are switching to a new topic, you'd likely receive more responses by posting a new thread.

    Good luck with your project.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Simply White is a good all around white.

    Taj majal Quartzite would look nice w/your floors.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    The most limiting ingredient to the kitchen design in an open plan is your choice of flooring. Everything you choose has to work with it.

    Yes, I think flooring has a great deal to do with the popularity of white cabinets these days. With hardwoods + white cabinets, you don't have any concerns about clashing wood tones.

    I think I had a bedroom smaller than that once.

    I'm sure I had less space than that in a dorm room.

    So you going to install a steam hose so you can just hose it down at the end of the day?

    And a drain in the middle? Sorry, had to be said.

    IMO good kitchen design has little to do with huge.

    Oh, that's not an opinion -- that's a fact. People want a kitchen that'll look great and function well, and somehow they translate that into, "I need a BIG kitchen!" But you don't need miles and miles of counter top -- you need counter space in the right areas /with good lighting /with all the right things handy. You don't need duplicate this-and-that -- you need all the elements of your kitchen laid out efficiently all the right things are located near one another.

    I have a large kitchen, and it is HIGHLY inefficient. I have about 35' of base cabinet, but only about 3' of it is really well lit and convenient to use ... so the majority of the kitchen is just clutter-space. The pantry and laundry are located at the back of the kitchen, so people are always walking through the work space. And the kitchen is 1- 1 1/2' too wide, so the two sides don't work together well. When I changed the counter tops, it cost a fortune and I couldn't afford the material I really wanted. No, large is not synonymous with a good kitchen.

    I prefer the slightly warmer tone white on the left, but it's a matter of personal choice, as well as the other elements in the room.

    I always prefer the "warmer whites". White is easy to do wrong, and one of the ways it can go wrong is to look too cold.

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Leave the cabinet choice until you've picked a specific stone counter that is available in two bookmatching pieces and that works with the floor. That is going to be more difficult than finding a good cabinet color. Once you do that, then the cabinet color will be easy to see. Cabinets won't 100% be the same color as paint pigments either. There will be subtle differences based on sheen and the differences in chemistry between standard paint and the catalyzed varnish of a cabinet coating.

    I have to open the can of worms and ask about the wall color. Does the designer work for the builder, or for you? You have a cold gray blue on the walls and a warm yellow beige on the floors with a hint of pink. You already have some color clash issues. But paint is easy to change thankfully!

    Now, I have successfully married a blue gray and yellow, but it involved wood tones that really warmed it up. And Yellow River granite that pulled everything together. We did bookmatched slabs behind the cooktop.



  • 8 years ago

    What kind of Pro are you?

    You really need to sit down with a true professional designer who can help you through all the decisions. I'm sorry but it seems like you're doing this all bass ackwards. As Cooks Kitchen said, you need to choose the most dominant feature first which will be your countertops and then everything else will work with it.

    And as stated, your colors are not working well together.

  • 8 years ago

    As a comment, I have a peninsula rather than an island and it is 11' x 52". I can easily reach past 1/2 of the width for passing things or cleaning. I have a full set of 15" deep cabinets all the way across under the counter on the great room side with 4 counter stools (no visible hardware.) I love it and so do others! All one level with an induction cooktop and downdraft on the kitchen side and NOTHING on the other side. I think of it as 2 different areas! So versatile!

  • 8 years ago
    Cpartist no I am not a pro
    What would do?
  • 8 years ago

    Why does your name have the Pro label under it?

    What would I do? I would work with a designer to figure out what my counters will be and then focus on pulling all the other elements together.

  • 8 years ago
    I have no clue why it says pro
    As I said before I am no pro
    Wish I was a pro at interior design
    I was wondering the same thing??
  • 8 years ago
    I went to my profile and I think I fixed the "pro"
    Problem
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    Thank goodness, it’s been a bit chilly in this chat. good luck!
  • 8 years ago

    Didn't fix it but no worries.

    Do you have your countertops picked yet?

  • 8 years ago

    pinelake, now that you've chosen one level for your island (good choice BTW, I've got a 2-level peninsula and it's covered in 'stuff'. Always has been. They tend to gather things!), I agree with cpartist, you need to choose your counter top before the cabinet colors. I like warm whites, but again, that counter top might change everything for you.

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    I️ will say, I️ had cabinet colors and walls chosen but not engraved in stone, was stressing about lighting, floor color and hardware, and then I️ found my island slab and all was right with the world. Everything just fell together and/or was validated once that was chosen.
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    This is my kitchen and island slab that pulled it all together. My designer suggested paint colors and perimeter counters which will be a light uniform quartz and she is a color genius! When I️ found the island I️ knew it was ‘the one’
  • 8 years ago
    Beautiful kelly!! What is the color on your cabinets ?
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    12' long in one slab.....have never done without a visible seam. An island that large needs extra support below as well in terms of support on the floor to support that amount of weight In terms of the counter, you have to take a piece of the floor tile and the two doors to the slab yard or the showroom, from there you can compare how they work with one another. Narrow colors to two options and then hold them up to natural light and then you will see the color of counter that fits best. If you are having to do that large of an island you might consider doing two instead of a massive....good luck and show us your progress please.

  • 8 years ago

    I would highly recommend working with a designer.

    Your floors are already in and now everything else you choose needs to coordinate with them. As others have pointed out, the current wall color does not. The stone should be next as the range or cabinet colors, backsplash options and wall colors is much easier to coordinate with a busy stone or floor tile than the other way around.

    Regarding Simply White - it is not useful to say whether it is a good all-around white or it has worked well for other people or not. It has to work with your space and other finishes for it to be the right white for you (see related blog post: http://www.mariakillam.com/joanna-gaines/)

    And here are some other blog posts that you may find useful.

    http://www.mariakillam.com/what-not-to-do-with-your-kitchen-island-design/

    http://www.mariakillam.com/does-your-floor-tile-have-to-match/

    http://www.mariakillam.com/classicwhitekitchens/

  • 8 years ago

    For example here is a close up of my slab and every color in my house is a variation of the colors seen in this slab.

  • 8 years ago

    OT: darn you cp, you know it's torture for me to see your quartzite. {right clicking tab, clicking enlarge, clicking print... looking for frame for my new artwork... }

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Beth H, if you delete your comment or question, that makes people responding (me) look rather foolish.

  • 8 years ago

    2Many,,,and to what comment would that be? I deleted the countertop comment to cp because I saw your comment that it was quartzite. whats the problem?

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    Those are so my colors cpartist! Can you show us more? I️ LOVE Chiang Mai fabric by Schumacher and I️ see most of the colors in there. Thanks for sharing!
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    I️ see a lot of these colors. Beautiful stone!
  • 8 years ago
    This is not the pain Color this is primer on the walls I have not chosen the paint color yet.
  • 8 years ago
    *paint